“You can’t tell anyone,” was the first thing I said.“Oh, Aria…” Julia said, shrinking a little.I didn’t fully understand why she was upset. Had I disappointed her? “I’m sorry,” I started to say.“Don’t you dare apologize,” Julia said. “We are the ones who should say sorry to you.”I startled, not
Lucian’s POVWhen I returned home that evening, after visiting my father once more in the hospital and discovering he had blessedly awoken, I expected to head straight to bed. It was late, after all, with all of the servants gone for the evening.Instead, I found Sheila waiting for me in the living
By now, I was entirely fed up with Sheila.“I’m going to bed,” I said, and stepped around her.“But, Lucian,” she called after me. “We should talk about this.”“Another time,” I replied without turning back. In reality, I’d avoid this topic again for as long as I physically could.The next day, when
Aria’s POVI came to check on Harold again, but before going inside of the room, I stood outside taking and reviewing his chart from the holder it had sat in beside the door. The overnight crew had kept a close eye on Harold as I requested, but other than snoring a little, there was nothing to repor
Aria’s POVWhen I arrived home that night, I was absolutely exhausted, both physically and mentally. The entire carried home, I’d planned for this moment when I could finally remove my Dr. A costume, dress down in my pajamas, and then bury my sorrows in a pint of ice cream.Yet I only managed two-th
Cathy tossed aside her jacket and purse, then, rushing towards me, helped guide me into the living room where I sat down on the couch.My first fear was for the baby, but my wolf whispered softly, “I will protect them.”Relief immediately sank through me. With it, I leaned back on the couch and brea
Lucian’s POVI wasn’t sure at first what I was looking at. Even though the book was very clearly labeled diary, I couldn’t fathom that something so personal would be something that Aria would have willingly left behind.She took what she did when she left, but never came back for anything else. I co
Aria’s POV“What do you wear to a divorce ceremony?” I asked Cathy as we both stood outside of my closet, looking in.“Black, right?” Cathy asked.“Funeral attire?” I replied. That didn’t seem right. Although, maybe for a divorce, as this was the end of a chapter of my life, black would be appropria
But Jasper’s words still rang true. When was the last time, as Alpha, I had ever been happy?The job made me miserable, even before Aria had left me. Constant pressure, constant responsibility, constant ridicule, limited thanks. Years and years of it had worn me down, eroded like a rock in the water
Lucian’s POVJasper’s punch caught me by surprised. I stumbled back, nearly into the elevator again as the doors started to close. He definitely broke my nose. Holding it, I stepped forward again, back off the elevator. Blood dripped down onto my shirt.Jasper had several different reasons to be pis
Over the next few days, I didn’t see Lucian at all. Presumably he saw the kids after I took them to spend time with their grandparents. Harold was out of the hospital and eager to see the kids.With the kids there, I returned to Cathy’s and started packing up my clothes and that of the kids. Cathy w
Aria’s POV“Lucian…”I could tell he was hanging on my every word, nervously anticipating my answer.I hated that I was about to break him. But surely he would understand.“I’m sorry,” I said. “I can’t marry you.” Before he could say anything, and he clearly wanted by how quickly he opened his mouth
Aria’s POVWe all waited with bated breath to see how Harold would handle the medicine. Perhaps I had been too late in providing it? The heart monitor was still beating too quickly. Harold was moaning in pain. The nearby Healers seemed ready to help him along with his passing. Piper and I physically
Aria’s POVAt the hospital, Lucian gave me a final squeeze. “Please help him,” he said.“I’ll do my best,” I promised. Then, breaking away from him, leaving him with Julia in the waiting room, I rushed to the emergency room to see what was going on.Fortunately, one of the nurses lent me a hair-tie
“But the food hasn’t arrived yet,” he said.I couldn’t wait. Feeling like I was going to pass out, I needed out of here.I pushed my chair back and stood. “I’m sorry,” I said.Turning, I hurried away from the table, from the dining room, from the restaurant. I threw the door open and ran outside.Wh
Aria’s POVSilas’s words haunted me long after the phone conversation, and that, combined with my discussion with Cathy and Piper convinced me to at least hear Lucian out. Because of this, when he called me to talk, and asked me to go out on a date with him, I decided to say yes.Now, after dressing
Aria’s POVHow was it, even after all this time, after all this distance, after all the hurt that sat piled up between us – I still so easily fell back into Lucian’s web.I wanted to be stronger, to be harder, and keep up the walls with him, yet every time we’d been around each other, he seemed to s